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This article is reprinted with permission from Poultry Digest magazine, the August/September 1998 issue:
Floor and Slat Eggs in the Breeder House
by: R. Keith Bramwell, Extension Poultry Scientist, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
The occurrence of potential hatching eggs laid on the floor or slats of the breeder house can present a significant problem for the hatching egg producer. Most eggs laid on the floor or slats are unacceptable as hatching eggs because of the increased likelihood of broken and/or contaminated eggs. A few contaminated eggs placed in the setter can then contaminate all the eggs in the setter or at least those placed nearby. Therefore, the incidence of floor and slat eggs are not only costly to the contract breeder grower, but these eggs that somehow ‘slip in’ with the rest of the hatching eggs can also be costly to the integrator. The incidence of floor and slat eggs can range from moderate to severe with reports of floor and slat eggs exceeding 20 percent in some cases.
The basic biology and nature of the breeder hen tells her to find a nesting site where she can feel comfortable, safe and somewhat protected where she feels she will be able to incubate and raise her chicks. Obviously, they will never incubate and brood young, but their basic instincts tell them they should find an appropriate site to do so.
In a commercial breeder house these criteria are not fully provided. Therefore, the hen will find an area that best fits her needs. Hens, being creatures of habit, will generally choose the same nesting site day after day to lay her eggs. That is why many times multiple hens will pile in one nest box when a neighboring box is empty because each of them feels that box ‘belongs’ to them and it is the same place they were the day before.
Recently, an integrator began addressing this problem and a list of possible reasons for the increased incidence of floor eggs was developed. As these areas were addressed, the percentage of flocks with floor egg problems was reduced by more than one half and it continues to improve. Some of the areas identified as problematic in causing increased floor eggs were:
Poor training of the birds by the grower.
1. Rapidly ‘walking’ the breeder house and not ‘training’ the birds to use the nests and get up on the slats. Rapid walking tends to startle the hens and scare them away from the nests. Walk the hens slowly, especially during the training period.
2. Pattern of grower traffic which forces birds into corners, thereby introducing them to improper potential nesting sites. Walk the houses in a pattern that will force the birds towards the nesting sites, not away from them.
3. Growers ‘resting’ after house preparation until the first eggs appear because they never had a floor egg problem before (late training the of birds). It is important that the birds be ‘walked’ several times each day to encourage hens to find the nests and acclimate them to the breeder house and grower.
Poor nest sanitation and preparation.
1. Poor condition of nest pads. Worn nest pads tend to be uncomfortable to the hens and may discourage the hens from using the proper nesting sites.
2. Dirty belts and manure buildup on nest pads may also discourage hens from entering the nest hole.
Poor feeding methods and equipment problems that cause birds to be ‘glued’ to the feeders.
1. Too much time between feeder run times.
2. Feed spills.
3. Too little feeder space for the number of hens housed.
4. Male feeders running for long periods of time attracting hens to the scratch area.
5. Feed spills in the scratch area.
Dark spots in the houses near Kool cells, mechanical nest rows, rooster feeders and other areas.
Extra lights can be added to help reduce the dark spots, and rooster feeders can be raised after the males clean up the feed.Transferring pullets to breeder house later to assure proper fleshing when light stimulated.
Although waiting for a minimum body weight and fleshing will improve uniformity of sexual maturity, the pullets will have a shorter period time in the hen house before egg production starts, increasing the likelihood that some hens will choose alternative nest sites.Placing too many hens in the breeder house, thereby limiting each hen’s access to proper nesting sites.
Although the nest manufacturers’ suggested number of hens per nest hole will vary, the industry average is 5.5 hens per nest hole.In addition to the above list of causes for increased floor/slat eggs, other contributing factors may include high slats, limited slat area around nest sites, over hanging slats causing dark spots, and foot and leg problems. If floor and slat eggs are a problem, evaluate your management practices and housing conditions. Observe your birds to try and determine the cause of them not choosing the provided nesting sites.
